I had the privilege of meeting our prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, in June 2001 when he visited New York along with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders.
A reception was held for them at the Marriott.
When I introduced a delegation of community leaders to Dr Singh, he met everyone with a smile. He was very polite and humble.
I told him it was because of his economic reforms that India and Indians were doing well the world over.
The next day, I again met him at Hotel Carolyn where he was put up with the rest of the Congress delegation.
I had gone there to meet Sonia Gandhi.
He spoke well with all of us.
I think our prime minister is highly educated, humble and has a great track record. I wish him the very best and hope he will strengthen our country's economy further.
God bless him with good health and a long life.
Rajender Dichpally
Youth President (2001-2003), Indian National Overseas Congress
Senior Programmer/Analyst
Nomura Securities
Wall Street
I met Dr Manmohan Singh in Gwalior in 1997, at the annual national conference of the Indian Economic Association.
I was so enthusiastic about meeting him that I made his sketch.
When I showed it to him, he smiled. He cheerfully signed on the sketch and wrote an inspiring note.
I expressed my appreciation for his contribution towards our country's progress.
Nothing bad can be said about him.
In the public life, he remains a person par excellence.
We are lucky to have him at the helm.
Manish Sharma
Doctoral Fellow
University of Tokyo
When I was younger, I was an avid political watcher and a keen autograph collector. I made it a point to try and go for functions attended by celebrities.
One such programme was the annual K S Hegde Memorial Lecture, which was to be delivered by former finance minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
I was excited at the prospect of seeing the man who had single-handedly given a much-needed lift to the reputation of the scam-tainted Narasimha Rao government.
Security was minimal and accessing the simple, turban clad Dr Singh was not difficult.
I did not know which exit Dr Singh would take at the end of the lecture to avoid being mobbed so, after he was done, I went and waited by the car that was to take him to the airport.
As soon as he reached the car, I asked him for his autograph.
Dr Singh asked me my name. Before I could reply, he said if he gave me an autograph he would be delayed and miss his flight. I replied that the flight would wait for him. He smiled and signed an autograph for me before getting into his car.
It was an unforgettable encounter with a gentle intellectual.
Dr Singh may not have a constituency or mass support base. Yet, as member of the Rajya Sabha from Assam, he has done a lot for this northeastern state. His image as Mr Clean will increase the country's growth momentum in the days to come.
I'll always cherish the day I met him.
Amith Prabhu
Junior Associate
Genesis Public Relations Pvt Ltd
Gurgaon
Into the 21st century
I had meet Dr Manmohan Singh when he was finance minister.
He had come to attend the Annual Grape Growers Meet at Pune; my father was the president.
My first impression of him remains as fresh as ever -- the way the way he greeted everybody in particular.
I am proud to have a prime minister like Dr Singh.
I am confident that, just as he once transformed the economy, he will now transform the country.
Anand S Kanchan
Marketing research trainee
Mahagrapes
Mumbai
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